Owners have filed 726 safety complaints about the 2018 Ford EcoSport with U.S. regulators. Here's what the federal data shows, system by system.
Complaints for this vehicle report 18 crashes, 2 fires, 10 injuries. No deaths have been reported.
Complaints filed with NHTSA name the vehicle system involved. For the 2018 Ford EcoSport, engine & cooling issues stand far above everything else.
"While having oil changed at the Ford dealership, I was told there was a small oil leak. I made an appt for a diagnostic test for the following week. I was told the diagnostic test showed a cracked valve cover. I had it repaired while they had the vehicle."
"1.0L EcoBoost suffered a repeat failure following Recall 23S64, Metro Ford of OKC confirmed in writing that prior dealer workmanship caused the failure, and Ford Corporate (Case # CXH-08846832) is completely unresponsive, leaving the vehicle inoperable and unsafe."
For most vehicles, complaint volume spikes early and tapers off. The 2018 Ford EcoSport inverts that curve — filings peaked in 2024, 6 years after the model year.
Across the Ford EcoSport model years we track, the 2018 has the most complaints on file.
2 recalls apply to some or all 2018 Ford EcoSport vehicles. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in the United States Federal Territiories. These vehicles were shipped with the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label and the European English language owner's manual kits. As such, these vehicles fail to comply w…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer, with no time limit. Look up your 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA site to see open recalls for your specific vehicle. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov →
NHTSA crash ratings measure how the car protects occupants in a crash — a separate question from the reliability complaints above. A vehicle can be both crashworthy and trouble-prone.
As of September 7, 2026, owners have filed 726 complaints about the 2018 Ford EcoSport with NHTSA. The most-reported system is engine & cooling.
The 2018 Ford EcoSport has 2 NHTSA recalls on file. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
NHTSA gives the 2018 Ford EcoSport an overall crash rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Crash ratings measure occupant protection in a collision; they do not measure reliability, which is what the complaint data above reflects.
All figures come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs: the Office of Defects Investigation complaint database, the recalls database, and NCAP safety ratings, retrieved September 7, 2026.
Complaints are self-reported by consumers and are not verified by NHTSA or by this site. A single complaint may cite multiple vehicle systems, so system mentions can sum to more than the complaint total. Complaint volume is influenced by fleet size, media attention, and recall notices, and is not by itself a measure of defect rates.
This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Nothing here is repair, purchase, or legal advice. For your specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and consult a qualified technician.